Jim Harbaugh calls for San Francisco 49ers to be tame' during off week

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, right, celebrates with tight end Delanie Walker, left, after Kaepernick scored a touchdown on a 50-yard run during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins. The 49ers have the weekend off as the NFL playoffs begin with wild card games. (AP Photo)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Aldon Smith’s snap count more than doubled from his rookie year to this season, and coach Jim Harbaugh said the outside linebacker is one player who should be boosted by the San Francisco 49ers’ current bye week.

“Aldon will benefit from some of the rest that he has an opportunity to take, you know, to rest his mind, to rest his body,” Harbaugh said on KNBR radio. “Watching the tape, he’s somebody that can use (the rest), that needs it.”

Last season, Smith was a pass-rush specialist who played behind starter Parys Haralson and was in on 489 of the team’s 1,014 defensive snaps.

This season, he’s an every-down player and has played 1,003 snaps on defense and 68 on special teams.

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Smith set the season franchise record with 19 1/2 sacks this season and was second in the league to Houston’s J.J. Watt (201/2).

However, Smith has gone the past three games without a sack -- his longest streak since September 2011 -- and didn’t play well against Seattle and Arizona.

That mostly has been attributed to the absence of teammate Justin Smith, but fatigue is another likely factor. Aldon Smith also has been battling a shoulder injury for the past six weeks.

As they rooted for the Minnesota Vikings to beat the Green Bay Packers following their season finale Sunday afternoon, 49ers players left no doubt they wanted the week of rest.

They were given Tuesday and Wednesday off and returned to practice Thursday and Friday. They also have the weekend off.

Harbaugh on Monday advised them to use the time wisely, including a plea to be “tame” on New Year’s Eve.

“Tried to ask that, encourage it, almost insist on it, but you can’t make people do things,” he said. “But if you players are listening: Be tame, be tame, let’s rest. I think we need it.”

Justin Smith is another player who desperately needed the bye.

Smith hopes his partially torn triceps tendon heals to the point where he can be effective in the team’s playoff opener Jan. 12. Smith said he has felt stronger and more confident the farther he’s gotten from the date of the injury. If he starts the next game, it will have been 27 days since the injury occurred.

Said Patrick Willis of the bye: “It gives us the chance to get healthier in areas and hopefully get one of our more key guys back, Justin. And just a chance to get our bodies that much more fresh.”

Aldon Smith, meanwhile, went from logging the 21st-most snaps on the team in 2011 to having the fifth-most this season, when special teams plays are included.

Two 49ers were on the field for 100 percent of their unit’s snaps.

Offensive linemen Anthony Davis and Alex Boone, a newcomer at guard, played all 1,004 offensive plays. The snap-count winner -- by a healthy margin -- was safety Dashon Goldson, who played 1,147 total snaps, including 121 on special teams.

Running back Frank Gore, who appeared to slow at the end of last season, actually played more snaps this year, 728 vs. 687. However, he has carried the ball fewer times this season (258) than last (282) and said he feels fresher than a year ago.

“I feel a lot better. I feel great,” Gore said. “I’ve got to thank (strength and conditioning coach) coach (Mark) Uyeyama, the training room, just for keeping me healthy. The coaches watching me during the week at practice. And I feel great. I’m ready for the postseason.”